Combination flowerpot



March 2, 1937.

R. H. LOCKYER 2,072,172

, COMBINATION FLOWERPOT Filed Dec. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j 7 INVENTOR.

ROBERT H L OCKYER l BY ATTORNEY? Filed Dec. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j INVEIZVTOR. ROBERT LocKYER TORNE Patented Mar. 2, 1937 ST TE COMBINATION FLOWERPOT Robert H. Lockyer, San Francisco, Calif. Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,603

s Claims. (01. ra-3s) My invention relates to improvements in combination flower 'potsj and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a combination flower pot in which a well is disposed beneath the earth-holding receptacle for catching and retaining water draining from the receptacle. Means is provided for conveying the water away from the well and for gradually feeding this water to the dirt in the receptacle. It will be seen from this that the well prevents the bottom of the receptacle from filling up with waterand rotting the plant roots, and further that this water is carried away from the well and is used for continually'adding water to the dirt over an extended period of time. It is possible with this arrangement to allow as much as a month or more to elapse between successive times in watering the plant.

The device makes use of a wick that extends from the water infthe well to. the portion of earth disposed adjacent to thetop of the receptacle. The wick will conveywater from the well to the earth by capillary attraction. If desired the wick and receptacle may be shielded by a shade or screen that surrounds the receptacle and rests on the base. The wick may be cylindrical and entirely encircle the receptacle or it may consist of separate strips. The wick may also extend over the top of the receptacle or be passedthrough a slot disposed near the top.

A further object of my invention. is to provide 5 a device of the type described which is extremely simple in construction and which is durable and eflicient for the purpose intended. The receptacle supporting means may rest on the well bottom or the rim of the well; This means may also be adjustable to fit wells of different sizes and can support adjustable wick anchoring means.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the. following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of a part of the device;

Figure 3 shows a portion of the wick; 5'5 Figure 4 is a vertical section through a modified form of the invention, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a part of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the adjustable wick anchoring means;

Figure '7 is a plan view of a portion of the wick; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section of another modified form. v

In carrying out my invention I provide a saucer-shaped base indicated generally at I, see Figure 1. This base has an outwardly extending flange or rim 2 provided with a groove 3 for a purpose hereinafter described. In Figure 2 I show a ring 4 provided with supporting legs 5, these legs having outwardly extending feet 5. Figure 2 also shows flanges 1 extending upwardly from the bottom of the ring, and these flanges are positioned between the legs. Portions of the legs are struck up as at 8 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The flanged ring 4 is placed in the base or.

water-retaining well I, and the feet 6 center the ring 4 with respect to the base. It will be noted that three legs are shown in Figure 2, and that two of these legs are shown in Figure 1 disposed diametrically opposite each other for the purpose of clarity.

An earth-holding receptacle is supported by the ring 4 and held against lateral movement by the flanges I. This receptacle consists of a bottom perforated member 9 and a cylindrical member ID. If desired, the member ID may be flared outwardly to resemble a flower pot, and the cylinder is provided with openings or. slots H near its lower edge for draining purposes.

The bottom 9 has avfiange that contacts with the ring 4 to hold the bottom in position. The cylindrical member l0 telescopes over the flange of the bottom and is received within the flanges l and is supported by the curved portions connecting the flanges 'l with the ring 4.

The receptacle thus formed'is filled with earth as indicated at 12 and the water poured in at the top of the receptacle for watering the plant not shown will seep through the earth and drain from the openings II in the cylinder Ill and the openings E3 in the bottom 9. The water will find its way into the water-retaining well or base I, and I have indicated the water at M. The means for removing the water from the well or base I and for conveying this water to the earth l2 consists of a wick I5 cylindrical in shape and disposed around the cylinder in.

The wick l5 has openings l6, see Figure 3, for receiving the legs 5. The wick also has small openings I! for receiving the clips 8 and the openings I6 and I1 define strips I8 which are moved between the clips 8 and the legs 5 as shown in Figure 1. If desired the strips l8 may be reinforced by additional strips l9 that are secured to the wick I 5 and extend parallel with the strips l8.

In placing the wick in position the legs 5 are inserted through the openings l6 and then the strips I8 are passed beneath the clips 8. The wick I5 is now extended up along the outer surface of the cylinder l0 and the upper portion of the wick is folded back into the interior of the cylinder l8 and extends an appreciable distance down below the surface of the earth l2. Since the bottom of the wick is immersed in the water Hi, this water will be lifted from the well by capillary attraction and will be conveyed to the earth. This removal of the water from the well is gradual and continuous until all of the water has been removed. The greater part of this water will be fed to the earth while a portion will evaporate from the wick.

It will be seen from this construction that I provide novel means for permitting all excess water to drain from the earth, and then to gradually remove this water from the well and to feed it to the earth as required. It is possible by this arrangement to not only prevent the roots of the plants from becoming water logged and rotting, but to continuously add water to the earth over a long period of time without the necessity of frequently watering the plant. So long as the top of the earth feels moist to the fingers the person will know that it is unnecessary to add water to the device.

If desired the wick and earth-holding receptacle may be shielded by a shade or screen which is in the form of a cylinder and which has its lower edge resting in the groove 3. This screen may be of any shape desired to enhance the appearance of the device and the upper rim 2| thereof preferably extends above the top of the cylinder l0 and wick |5 so as to conceal them.

The device as illustrated can be knocked down, that is, the various parts can be disassembled for packing in a small space for shipment.

In Figures 4 to 7 inclusive I show a modified form of the invention in which the earth-holding receptacle indicated generally at is supported by an adaptor indicated generally at 26, see

Figure 5, this adaptor in turn being carried by the rim 21 of a saucer or base member 28. The adaptor 26 comprises a disc 29 slidably carrying supporting arms 38. Figure 5 shows these arms being slidably received in looped portions 3| struck out of the disc 29 and the outer ends of these arms are turned upwardly at 32, and then are bent horizontally at 33, and are finally again bent upwardly at 34, and are formed into any desired configuration such as a ring-shaped member. When placing the adaptor in the saucer or base 28 the arms 30 are extended so that the vertical portions 32 abut the inner wall 35 of the rim 21. The portions 33 rest on the top of the rim 2! and support the adaptor.

In Figures 4 and 6 I show adjustable wickanchoring means slidably mounted on one of the arms 3E). This means comprises an arcuate strip 36 provided with an integral U-shaped member 31 that is slidable on the arm 33. A set screw 38 is carried by the under side of the member 31, and can be tightened to hold the strip 36 in adjusted position on the arm. The outer ends of the strip 36 carry downwardly extending projections 39 and these projections are provided with shoulders 40.

The wick-anchoring members 36 perform an additional function of centering the earth-receiving receptacle 25. The receptacle consists of a disc-shaped bottom member 4|, see Figure 4, this member carrying an annular up-turned flange 42. The arcuate strips 36 are moved so as to abut the flange 42, and in this way lateral movement of the bottom 4| is prevented. The bottom has perforations 43 and rests upon the disc 29. A cylindrical member 44, frusto-conical in shape, has its lower reduced end received within the flange 42, this end resting upon the bottom 4|. The member is provided with perforations 45, and with a rolled top rim 46. The member 44 also has elongated slots 41 disposed near the rim 46, and the rim preferably is curved so as to hide the slots in the outside of the member 44.

In Figure 7 I show a portion of a wick 48 and this wick has eyelets 49 therein. These eyelets are spaced a sufiicient distance apart so that one eyelet will be received by one projection 39 on a wick-anchoring member 36, while the other eyelet will be received by a similar projection 39 on the next wick-anchoring member. In the present form of the device I show three arms 30, and. I provide three wicks 48, these wicks being disposed between adjacent arms. The lower portions of the wicks extending below the eyelets 49 are long enough to dip into the water 50 contained in the bottom of the saucer or well 28. The upper ends of the wicks are passed through the slots 41 and are extended downwardly a predetermin-ed distance into the earth 5| carried by the receptacle. A shade or screen 52, see Figure 4, rests upon the horizontal portions 33 of the arms 30 and the shade is held against lateral movement by the portions 34 of the arms. The shade may be of any shape desired, and I have shown it extended a slight distance above the top of the receptacle 25 in order to conceal the wicks 48 and the receptacle.

The operation of this form of the device is identical to that form shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. The water poured upon the earth 5| will percolate through the earth and any excess water will drain through the openings 43 and slots 45.

This water will be caught by the saucer 2B and the wicks 48 will convey this water back to the earth by capillary attraction. The saucer 28 prevents the water from gathering at the bottom of the receptacle and rotting the roots, and at the same time it provides a source of water to gradually feed water to the earth over a protracted period of time by means of the Wicks.

In Figure 8 another slightly modified form of the invention is shown. In this form the arms 30 are provided with upwardly extending projections 53 and the shade or screen 52 is provided with eyelets 54 receivable on the projections. The shade or screen 52 will therefore extend down along the outer surface of a receptacle 55 that takes the place of the saucer 28. In all other respects this form of the device is identical to the form shown in Figures 4 to '7 inclusive, and therefore like reference numerals will be given and additional description is not necessary. The operation of this form of the device is the same as the form shown in Figure 4.

The advantage of providing the three wicks 48 instead of a single cylindrical wick l5 lies in the fact that the three wicks can be disposed in place morereadily than thesingle wick, Moreover, if one of the three wicks should wear out it is not necessary to throw away the other two wicks, and a new, wick can be quickly added. The adaptor 26 can be quickly adjusted to saucers of different sizes and to earth-holding receptacles of various sizes. The entire device may be disassembled readily in the same manner as the form shown in Figure It should. be noted that the adaptor in Figured does'not rest upon-the bottom of the saucer as is true of. the form shown in Figure 1. It should also benoted that the unsightly appearanceof the wicks extending over the upper edge of the earth-holding receptacle is doneaway with by the provision of the slots 41 and the rolled top or rim 46.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A flower pot comprising an earth-holding receptacle, a water retaining well disposed beneath the receptacle for catching water draining from the receptacle, and. a wick extending from the well and designedto gradually convey the water from the well back to the earth in the receptacle by capillary attraction, whereby the bottom of the receptacle is kept from becoming water-logged and the earth is kept watered for an extended period of time, and a screen surrounding the receptacle and wick.

2. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, an earth-holding receptacle, means for supporting the receptacle and for spacing the bottom of the receptacle above the bottom of the base for providing a well for receiving water draining from the receptacle, and a wick encircling the receptacle and leading from the well up to the earth in the receptacle'for transferring the water from the well to the earth by capillary attraction.

3. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, an earth-holding receptacle, means for supporting the receptacle and for spacing the bottom of the receptacle above the bottom of the base for providing a well for receiving water draining from the receptacle, and a wick encircling the receptacle and leading from the well up to the earth in the receptacle for transferring the water from the well to the earth by capillary attraction, and a screen surrounding the receptacle and wick.

4. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, a flanged ring disposed in the base and having legs spacing the ring above the base bottom, an earthholding receptacle carried by the ring and being held against lateral displacement by the flange, and a wick encircling the receptacle and extending from the base up to the earth in the receptacle.

5. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, a flanged ring disposed in the base and having legs spacing the ring above the base bottom, an earth-holding receptacle carried by the ring and being held against lateral displacement by the flange, and a wick encircling the receptacle and extending from the base up to the earth in the receptacle, and means for anchoring the wick to the legs.

6. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, a flanged ring disposed in the base and having legs spacing the ring above the base bottom, an earth-holding receptacle carried by the ring and being held against lateral displacement by the flange, and a wick encircling the receptacle and extending from the base up to the earth in the receptacle, said base having a rim with an annular groove therein, and a circular screen enclosing, the wick andresting in the groove. 7. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, a flanged rin'g .disposed in the baseand having legs spacing the ring abovethe. base bottom and centering the ring in the base, an earth retaining receptacle consisting of a perforated bottom member and a perforated cylindrical member supported by the ring and held in place by the flange, and a wick,.cylindrical in form, encircling the receptacle. and extending. from the base. and being curved over the, top ofthe receptacle and contacting with the earth.

3. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, a

flanged ring disposed in the base and having legs spacing the ring above the base bottom and centering the ring in the base, an earth retaining receptacle consisting of a perforated bottom member and a perforated cylindrical member supported by the ring and held in place by the flange, and a wick, cylindrical in form, encircling the receptacle and extending from the base and being curved over the top of the receptacle and contacting with the earth, and means for anchoring the Wick to the legs.

9. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, a flanged ring disposed in the base and having legs spacing the ring above the base bottom and centering the ring in the base, an earth retaining receptacle consisting of a perforated bottom member and a perforated cylindrical member supported by the ring and held in place by the flange, and a wick, cylindrical inform, encircling the receptacle and extending from the base and being curved over the top of the receptacle and contacting with the earth, said base having a rim with an annular groove therein, and a circular screen enclosing the wick and resting in the groove.

10. A combination flower pot comprising a saucer-shaped base having a rim, an adaptor, adjustable arms carried by the adaptor and resting on the rim for supporting and centering the adaptor with respect to the base, an earth holding receptacle supported by the adaptor and having slots disposed near its top, wicks extending through the slots and having their ends imbedded in the earth, and wick-anchoring means adjustable on the arms for holding the other ends ofthe wicks down in the base, said wick-anchoring means also centering the receptacle with respect to the adaptor.

11. In a combination flower pot, a base for holding water, an earth-holding receptacle supported by the base above the water level and having slots disposed near its top, and wicks extending from the earth and being passed through the slots, the free ends of the wicks extending down along the outer surface of the receptacle and into the water in the base, the top edge of the receptacle being rolled for covering the slots.

12. A combination flower pot comprising a saucer-shaped base having a rim, an adaptor, adjustable arms carried by the adaptor and resting on the rim for supporting and centering the adaptor with respect to the base, an earth holding receptacle supported by the adaptor and having slots disposed near its top, wicks extend- I ing through the slots and having their ends imbedded in the earth, and wick-anchoring means adjustable on the arms for holding the other ends of the wicks down in the base, said Wickanchoring means also centering the receptacle with respect to the adaptor, and a shade encircling the receptacle and wicks and being supported by the arms.

13. In a combination flower pot, a base for holding water, an adjustable adaptor supported by the rim of the base, an earth-holding receptacle supported by the adaptor above the base bottom, and means for centering the receptacle with respect to the adaptor, wicks extending from the earth to the interior of the base, said receptacle centering means also anchoring the wicks for holding them in the base.

14. In combination, a saucer-shaped base, an earth-holding receptacle, means for supporting the receptacle above the base bottom for providing a well for receiving water draining from the receptacle, and a wick leading from the well and extending along the outer surface of the receptacle, said wick projecting into the earth, whereby the water will be fed from the well to the earth by capillary attraction.

15. In combination, a base for holding water, an earth-holding receptacle supported above the base bottom and having slots near its top, and wicks extending from the base bottom along the outer surface of the receptacle, said wicks being passed through the slots and extending into the earth for transferring water from the base to the earth by capillary attraction.

ROBERT H. LOCKY'ER. 

